Tradescantia plant named &#39;nanouk&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Tradescantia plant named ‘Nanouk’, characterized by its compact and upright to broadly spreading plant habit; strong and healthy leaves; light purple, green and greyed green-colored leaves; and good interiorscape performance.

Botanical designation: Tradescantia albiflora.

Cultivar denomination: ‘NANOUK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofTradescantia plant, botanically known as Tradescantia albiflora andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Nanouk’.

The new Tradescantia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Sappemeer, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program was to create new compact Tradescantia plantswith attractive flower coloration and good performance.

The new Tradescantia plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2012in Sappemeer, The Netherlands, of two unnamed seedling selections ofTradescantia albiflora, not patented. The new Tradescantia plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Sappemeer, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Tradescantia plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled environment in Sappemeer, The Netherlands since March,2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Tradescantia plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Tradescantia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Nanouk’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Nanouk’ as a new and distinct Tradescantiaplant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright to broadly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Strong and healthy leaves.    -   3. Light purple, green and greyed green-colored leaves.    -   4. Good interiorscape performance.

Plants of the new Tradescantia and the parent selections differprimarily in leaf color as plants of the parent selections have whiteand green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Tradescantia can be compared to plants of theTradescantia spathacea ‘Tricolor’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Tradescantia and ‘Tricolor’ differprimarily in leaf shape as plants of new Tradescantia have shorter andmore rounded leaves than plants of ‘Tricolor’.

Plants of the new Tradescantia can also be compared to plants of theTradescantia albiflora ‘Albovittata’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Tradescantia and ‘Albovittata’ differprimarily in leaf color as plants of ‘Albovittata’ have white andgreen-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Tradescantia plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Tradescantia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Nanouk’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical plantof ‘Nanouk’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 12-cm containers during the winterin a glass-covered greenhouse in Sappemeer, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Tradescantia production. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25°C. and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. Plants were 18weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Tradescantia            albiflora, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Tradescantia            albiflora, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Thick; typically whitish in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium in density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact            and upright to broadly spreading plant habit; flattened            globular in overall shape; low vigor to moderately vigorous            growth habit; good interiorscape performance with plants            maintaining good quality for one to two years.        -   Plant height.—About 8.9 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 8.6 cm.        -   Basal branches.—Length: About 4.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Aspect: Variable, between 30° and 80° from vertical. Texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, developing:            Close to 148A. Color, developed: Close to darker than 148A;            axially-striped, close to N77D; at the internodes, close to            N77C to N77D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Distichous; leaves simple and sessile.        -   Length.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate, sheathing.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Slightly concave.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; at the base, sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N75A to            N75D; variable stripes, close to 147A. Developing leaves,            lower surface: Close to NN78A; variable stripes, close to            N186B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 75B            and N75D; variable stripes, close to NN137A, 147A and 189A.            Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to NN78A;            variable stripes, close to 79A and N186B.-   Flower description: To date, flower initiation and development have    not been observed on plants of the new Tradescantia.    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Tradescantia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Tradescantia have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Tradescantia plants.-   Temperature performance: Plants of the new Tradescantia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 40° C. and    to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Tradescantia plant named ‘Nanouk’as illustrated and described.